A/N: So, so, so sorry it's been a long time. Stuff happens and things have to be worked out and whatnot. All the same, here you go!
The next day rolls around. "I'll miss you," Jason calls out. Trini smiles and waves from the car's window before she starts it and pulls out of the driveway. The former red ranger watches the object of his affections slowly slide out of his life. For the time being, anyway.
Currently Kasey is lazing around in the lab, not wanting to face the hot weather outside. She is playing with Bow, who is strangely stuck in his leopard form and unable to go outside for the fear he could scare people. He could still go in the woods behind Tommy's house but other than that, is forced to stay inside.
Kira walks down the stairs to the lab, deciding to keep her new friend company. She is grateful it is a Saturday and she doesn't have to worry about school for now. She settles herself down next to the other girl.
For some reason, Messogog has been quiet as well since the attack on Kasey a few days earlier. They know it won't last.
"Any luck on why he's still a leopard?" Kira asks as the animal lies down in front of them. She starts to pet its soft head.
"Nope." Kasey shakes her head. "Hayley thinks that when my gem bonded with me, it didn't connect with the gem around his neck but she's working on it." She stretches her arms above her head and giggles. "The funny thing I like about it is Jason gets nervous around him." Kira laughs too, covering her mouth as Jason chose to make an entrance at that moment.
"Hey girls," Jason greets, oblivious to what had just occurred as he sits himself next to them. Kasey smothers her laughs and leans into him. Kira smiles at how much Jason seems to care for her.
Kasey fingers her bracelet. She wonders what she will have to face. She feels fear bubble up in her constantly ever since she took the gem. She breaks out of her thoughts when Tommy comes down the stairs and takes a seat on the last step.
"What is it with interrupting girl time?" says Kasey teasingly.
"Well we have some news for you," Tommy announces, unfazed. "Jason and I…we want to tell you the reason why Trini left the way she did."
Kira perks up, now noticing the absence of the former yellow ranger. She's a little sad because she thought she could learn so much from the older girl.
Kasey remembers them yelling and then Trini leaving to go home. Tommy fishes in his pocket and holds out a small black box that he then hands to Jason. He opens it to reveal a green gem that glows slightly in the dusty light.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Kasey jumps up, eyes wide. Jason is startled at her reaction and Kira leaps to her feet as well, looking around for a threat.
"Kasey, hear me out." Jason is a little tired of trying to persuade the younger girl not to jump to conclusions. "It may have bonded with me but I declined the offer. I am only going to use it if something goes wrong." He takes in a deep, shaky breath. "Trini left because I made a promise to her that I would stay away from the power." His face crumples but then hardens. "I want to keep that promise." Jason's voice cracks slightly on the word promise.
Kasey looks at him, relived. She cares for him and wants him to stay safe, even though she herself may not be able to.
The monitors go off suddenly and everyone glances up. They view the screen see the T-drones strolling through the park, not a care in the world. Jason groans softly and Tommy rubs his forehead with a hand.
"Oh great!" Kasey exclaims. "Let's go!" She and Kira get into their stances, pushing the last few minutes out of their minds. Kasey is about to see what her gem can do.
"Dino Thunder! Power up! Ha!" Kira cries, activating her morpher.
"Orange ranger power!" yells Kasey, the words seeming to come out of her own accord. When she morphs, she notices her suit is almost like her brother's but is had fangs on the top of her helmet with black spots like her animal spirit. Bow growls loudly at the sight. After one final wave, the girls head out.
"May the power protect you," Jason whispers, looking at their backs a little sadly.
W-H-A-T-G-O-E-S-A-R-O-U-N-D-C-O-M-E-S-A-R-O-U-N-D
"Trent! Conner! Ethan!" Kira calls into her morpher as they run towards the park. "We need our help!"
"On it!" Trent's voice rings out and Kira smiles underneath her helmet. She knows he will alert the others and they will soon join them.
"Hey drones, get lost," Kasey growls as they skid to a stop in front of the enemies, having arrived at the park. Kira stands next to her friend, ready to fight. They are about to engage in battle but then there's a blast of fire and the girls duck.
As the smoke clears, Zeltrax emerges from it.
"What do you want?" Kira demands, hands on her hips.
"We have you girls right where we want you," he hisses in response. The two rangers look at each other, confused before Zeltrax waves his hand and a cage appears, dropping over them.
"Since when can he do that?" Kira bangs her fists against the strong bars.
"Let us out so I can kick your butts!" yells Kasey. Suddenly she feels weak and drops to her knees, her suit disappearing in a flash of orange sparks. Kira powers down as well, clutching the bars with her hands to keep herself upright. She feels powerless and weak, all energy gone from her body.
"Zeltrax!" They all look in the direction to see Tommy, Jason, and the rest of the Dino Thunder team running towards them. The older two had been watching them on the monitor when they were captured. Tommy isn't morphed.
"Let them out, freak," Jason says venomously. His mind goes back to the day when Kasey was poisoned. Zeltrax merely laughs and shoots a laser at the girl's morphers, causing a thick wire to appear on them.
"Since when could he do that?" Ethan asks.
"That's wh-what I said," Kira exclaims, trying to pry the wire off. "What is th-this?" She struggles against it as it wraps around her morpher tightly before curling up her arm.
"That, rangers, will drain your energy every time you morph until you are destroyed!" answers Zeltrax, laughing. The drones vanish as he sprints them away.
The cage disappears.